CITY centre road closures to make way for the Phoenix Initiative are expected to be rubber-stamped today.

Coventry City Council cabinet member for environmental services Cllr John McNicholas (Lab, Lower Stoke) is set to approve the closures for the #40 million project to transform the city centre between Holy Trinity on Broadgate and the Museum of British Road Transport on Hales Street.

The package includes:

* Four new bus hubs around the inner ring road.

* Traffic lights at junction one of the ring road, the junction with Foleshill Road.

* Improvements to the junction of Bishop Street and Tower Street to allow easier access for buses.

* Closing the entrance to West Orchards car park at Ironmonger Row.

The work is expected to cost #105,000.

Bus operators have dropped their objections to the scheme but some traders and residents remain deeply opposed.

The city council is to give them the chance to air their views at a hearing.

Cllr McNicholas said: "Coventry City Council is delighted to have Stagecoach and Travel West Midlands on board and we are confident that the measures we will be taking will provide good access to the city centre.

"In law, we are obliged to consider objections when making our decision but we are not obliged to hold a public inquiry unless there are unresolved objections from bus companies.

"But we are conscious that those people who objected to the orders when they were published may wish to voice their concerns personally.

"If there are suggestions that are practical and could be incorporated into what we hope to do, we will look at them closely.

"We have not yet fixed a date or location for the hearing, but it will comprise four councillors who will hear submissions from those people who objected to the orders. We would hope to report back in a matter of days," he added.